Gilliam will likely present Dent at induction ceremony

Richard Dent has narrowed his list of candidates to present him at his Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Canton, Ohio, in August to two, and former coach Mike Ditka and ex-defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan didn't make the cut.

The Bears' all-time sack leader said either his daughter Mary or former Tennessee State coach Joe Gilliam Sr. will do the honor.

Dent was one of seven players selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2011 on Saturday.

"It's probably going to be (Gilliam Sr.) but I have to figure out something with my daughter," the ex-defensive end said during a press conference at Halas Hall on Wednesday.

The MVP of Super Bowl XX addressed several other topics during a 40-minute question-and-answer session:

On his long wait: "It's a relief because it has been some time but I always felt that you can't pluck a star from the sky. It can be cloudy but sooner or later you have to shine. This is my shining moment."

On practicing against Jimbo Covert: "Jimbo made my games easy. I knew I wasn't going to face a better guy than him in the National Football League."

On Covert's hall of fame credentials: "I played against all of them. No disrespect to any of them but Jimbo Covert was the best I ever faced. He was a guy who made me feel nervous. I was just glad he was on my team."

On the post-career honors he has garnered: "This is the first award from my career and, baby, it doesn't get better than this."

On spending the bulk of his career in the NFC Central: "Playing in the NFC Central, the old black-and-blue division, people really didn't throw the ball. ... It wasn't the NFC East where they threw the ball a lot or the NFC West where they threw the ball a lot. I could've gotten more opportunities but you have to take advantage of what's there."